Sino-Russian relations:

ditto for me, russia would benefit a lot as the middleman between china and india. If these 2 countries grow strong, russia's position would be even more important as it would be the one to tip the scale if ever something bad happens.

The US fears rivals more than communism or Islamic wahhabists or drugs or crime.

A strong India, a strong China, a strong Russia, even a strong EU are things the US wants to divide and conquer.

The US seems to think the world needs one strong power... the US thinks the world needs the US to be that one strong power.

Personally I think lots of strong countries are better... the more voices heard the better.

I love the BRICSA concept but would hate to see it turn into a G8 or G20 rich mans club that works to promote those rich countries and increase their wealth.

I would prefer to see BRICSA help other countries get stronger with free open trade and economic aide and development so those countries can join BRICSA too.

The west has had plenty of time to help poorer countries but it seems to me that the west fears everyone else with money the same way they fear everyone else with nuclear weapons.

The west has had nukes for a long time and the US is the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons in anger, yet it is other countries we should not trust with such technology...

_________________“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion […] but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact; non-Westerners never do.”

― Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

Borders are lines on maps and are subject to dispute from time to time.

Many are placed on maps arbitrarily and take little account of what is actually there.

Often the reality on the ground requires a revision or two.

_________________“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion […] but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact; non-Westerners never do.”

― Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to visit China Tuesday for talks with President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He will also visit the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), with the SCO Secretary General, Dmitry Mezentsev, accompanying him. Sources at the Russian Foreign Ministry told Itar-Tass earlier Minister Lavrov and his Chinese hosts will discuss preparations for President Vladimir Putin’s visit of China later this year and the situation in Ukraine.

"Apart from a detailed discussion of preparations for the Russian President’s visit, the sides will consider a schedule of other important bilateral contacts," the Foreign Ministry spokespeople said.

In the autumn, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang is due to visit Russia. A nineteenth regular meeting of the two countries’ Prime Ministers will be take place as part of the visit.

"Russian and Chinese Foreign Ministers will pay attention to cooperation on the international scene, as both Russia and China speak in favor of a just and democratic world order based on collective approaches, equitability, and commonly recognized norms and principles and principles of international law," a spokesman said.

"Given the current situation, the sides confirm understanding and respect for each other’s key interests, thus showing a non-timeserving character of Russian-Chinese relations," he said.

"Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi will hold a detailed exchange of opinions on a broad spectrum of global and regional problems, including the situation in Syria and Afghanistan and will also take a look at the situation around Iran’s nuclear programs and developments on the Korean Peninsula," he said, adding that Russia and China have similar or identical approaches to the bulk of international problems and they hope to continue coordinating their foreign policy efforts in the closest possible manner.Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_15/Russian-Foreign-Minister-to-visit-Beijing-for-talks-with-Chinese-top-rank-officials-4876/

George1 wrote:i think China isn't such a reliable partner/ally as India. The past has shown differences and clashes with russia

If we go by recent memory which powerful country outspokenly opposed ABM base proliferation on Russia's borders, and which country sent a warship to help Russia block an attempt by NATO to attack Syria? After you answer those questions, ask yourself this question...Is the geo-political landscape from the 1970's (where Russia and China were at odds) the same? Is Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Czech/Slovak Rep., Bulgaria, Yugoslav states still close military allies with Russia? If not, then would it be a smart idea to make enemies when it's not needed? Besides when the Chinese are so dependent on Russian engines for their jets fighters, it makes you wonder why people are so quick to label them and enemy of Russia.

The fact that they buy so many Russian jet engines means it's a sign of good-will and trust, and it also means that Russia has in-depth knowledge of the capabilities of Chinese jet fighters, and it means that if relations break-down than the spares and parts supply will be cut off...does that sound like a strategy of a country ready to pounce and take over Eastern Siberia?

Not only that, but remember that China joined Russia in an attempt to prevent the NATO bombardment of Serbia.And suffered consequences for it (the accidental Embassy bombing).Same goes for Libya, Syria etc.China is a good and reliable partner, there's no doubt about that.

George1 wrote:i think China isn't such a reliable partner/ally as India. The past has shown differences and clashes with russia

If we go by recent memory which powerful country outspokenly opposed ABM base proliferation on Russia's borders, and which country sent a warship to help Russia block an attempt by NATO to attack Syria? After you answer those questions, ask yourself this question...Is the geo-political landscape from the 1970's (where Russia and China were at odds) the same? Is Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Czech/Slovak Rep., Bulgaria, Yugoslav states still close military allies with Russia? If not, then would it be a smart idea to make enemies when it's not needed? Besides when the Chinese are so dependent on Russian engines for their jets fighters, it makes you wonder why people are so quick to label them and enemy of Russia.

The fact that they buy so many Russian jet engines means it's a sign of good-will and trust, and it also means that Russia has in-depth knowledge of the capabilities of Chinese jet fighters, and it means that if relations break-down than the spares and parts supply will be cut off...does that sound like a strategy of a country ready to pounce and take over Eastern Siberia?

Dont forget that china has tremendous needs for energy and for this reason they always have their "aim" in siberia..

Really how naive and how deluded can someone be about geopolitics to think China and Russia are enemies?Both relly on each other and i don't mean in just economical way, but the fact that China wouldn't survive against NATO aggressions without Russia and Russia would be gladly left eaten out by all sides since NATO can not win open war only with isolation and playing one force against another ie China vs Russia.

Russia and China know exact this is the plan of USA to have a war between China and Russia while NATO is pressuring both with more and more NATO bases. They just want another WW2 scenario where Germany was lead against Russia by UK since they can only make war with dirty tricks.

There is no hostile behavior or policy between China and Russia, one falls other will fall right away, both know it so this is the opposite of the Mutual Assured Destruction, this is the Mutual Assured Survival.

China has invested during the early 00s when Russia had rough times in russian companies, not just to make money out of it, because during that time this companies were not promising coming out of nowhere and/or revived, to raise the bipolarity in geopolitics which releases pressure from China.

The fact that BRICS is established showes they can not be so hostile like some naive people think, is the step to destruction of the petro-dollar which means destruction of the US and the destruction of Israel if they don't have enough political influence in europe to assure the income of european tax payers money into the Israel economy.

BRICS is checkmate to USrael hegemony and ensures safety for China and Russia, the entire Middle Eastern countries, some African countries and Central and South American countries.

George1 wrote:i think China isn't such a reliable partner/ally as India. The past has shown differences and clashes with russia

If we go by recent memory which powerful country outspokenly opposed ABM base proliferation on Russia's borders, and which country sent a warship to help Russia block an attempt by NATO to attack Syria? After you answer those questions, ask yourself this question...Is the geo-political landscape from the 1970's (where Russia and China were at odds) the same? Is Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Czech/Slovak Rep., Bulgaria, Yugoslav states still close military allies with Russia? If not, then would it be a smart idea to make enemies when it's not needed? Besides when the Chinese are so dependent on Russian engines for their jets fighters, it makes you wonder why people are so quick to label them and enemy of Russia.

The fact that they buy so many Russian jet engines means it's a sign of good-will and trust, and it also means that Russia has in-depth knowledge of the capabilities of Chinese jet fighters, and it means that if relations break-down than the spares and parts supply will be cut off...does that sound like a strategy of a country ready to pounce and take over Eastern Siberia?

Dont forget that china has tremendous needs for energy and for this reason they always have their "aim" in siberia..

1.) The Chinese will be building 21 LFTR reactors, their so called "demanding energy" needs is greatly exaggerated:

2.) Secondly, your telling me that they'll risk fighting Russia, when they haven't even invaded Taiwan (after 60 years) despite that it's a non-nulcear state and thousands of times weaker than Russia in conventional military power?

3.)Thirdly, the biggest perpetrators of the "Great Siberian War" scenario are neo-cons like Andrew "Yoda" Marshall of the Office of Net Assessment, who went from theorizing ways to undermine and destroy Russia (including a nuclear first strike) to now all of sudden voicing concern over Russia's well-being...isn't that a bit suspicious even in the least?

BEIJING, April 15. /ITAR-TASS/. The upcoming summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in the region, scheduled for May, will give a new impetus to the development of Russia-China relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday.

“First of all, I would like to convey President Putin’s warmest greetings and good wishes,” Lavrov said. “He highly appreciated that you had accepted his invitation and came to (Russia's Black Sea resort) Sochi in February, for the Winter Olympics, where you had a very fruitful and important dialogue.”“Today, we have discussed with my counterpart Wang Yi the main parameters of preparations for Putin’s visit to China for bilateral talks and participation in the CICA summit, and we have made definite agenda proposals, taking into account those wishes you expressed during our talks in The Hague twenty days ago,” the minister said.“We have considered preparations of the documents for signing. This is quite a solid package, and we are sure that this summit will give an extra powerful impetus to the development of our comprehensive partnership and strategic co-operation,” he added.The Chinese president said that “Vladimir Putin’s visit to China in May and the CICA summit will enhance Russia-China relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” and gave his “best regards and warmest wishes to the Russian president”.

MOSCOW, May 19 (RIA Novosti) – Russia and China will conduct large-scale joint naval drills to demonstrate the strengthening of military cooperation between the two powers as Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to arrive in China on Tuesday amid worsening relations between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.

The drills will be conducted in the northern part of the East Chinese Sea between May 20 and 26. A total of 14 surface ships, two submarines, nine airplanes, six shipboard helicopters and two operational detachments of marines will participate in the exercise, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement.

“With more united, integrated and real combat conditions, the drill will improve the two navies' capacity to deal with maritime security threats,” Deputy Commander of the Chinese Navy Tian Zhong said, according to the statement.

Compared with the previous two such drills, the Chinese and Russian naval forces participating in "Joint Sea-2014" will be mixed together. In addition, submarines and surface ships will confront each other. The countries’ navies will conduct simulated defense and attack exercises, as well as escort duty, search and rescue operations and the freeing of hijacked ships, the statement said.

A Russian Pacific Fleet squadron, led by the guided-missile cruiser Varyag, has arrived in China to participate in the drills, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Monday.

"There is no doubt the next Russo-Chinese naval drill will serve to further develop our relations," Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov said, according to the statement.

This will be the two countries' third such joint training exercise this year, aimed at strengthening the cooperation of their fleets and the ability to withstand various threats in open water.

China and Russia have close diplomatic, security and economic ties, and regularly carry out military exercises together. Last year, joint naval exercises were conducted in July in the Sea of Japan, involving about 20 ships and vessels from both sides.

The drill comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to arrive in Shanghai on an official visit on Tuesday to cement economic ties with China, including on energy, the Kremlin said. After Western powers sanctioned Moscow following the crisis in Ukraine, Russia has intensified contacts with Asian countries, primarily with China.

Alexey Miller: Russia and China signed the biggest contract in the entire history of Gazprom

Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee and Zhou Jiping, Chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed today a contract to supply pipeline gas from Russia to China via the eastern route. The parties signed the document in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shanghai.In presence of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, Alexey Miller and Zhou Jiping sign contract to supply gas to China via eastern route.

“Russia and China have signed the biggest contract in the entire history of the USSR and Gazprom – over 1 trillion cubic meters of gas will be supplied during a whole contractual period. Russian gas will be sold at a brand new market with a huge potential.

The arrangement of Russian pipeline gas supplies is the biggest investment project on a global scale. USD 55 billion will be invested in the construction of production and transmission facilities in Russia. An extensive gas infrastructure network will be set up in Russia's East, which will drive the local economy forward. Great impetus will be given to entire economic sectors, namely metallurgy, pipe and machine building.

Today we started the first page of a big book, a fascinating story of the Russian-Chinese cooperation in the gas industry, and many more essential chapters are yet to be written in it,” said Alexey Miller.

Former Chinese military attache to Russia General Van Yunhai recently remarked that the Ukrainian crisis had given Beijing at least a ten-year "strategic respite" from its global confrontation with the U.S. However, that prediction will probably prove inaccurate with regard to military matters. Despite Russia's military success in Crimea, it is very unlikely that anyone in Washington or Moscow harbors any illusions about Russia's strategic capabilities or ambitions regarding Europe. That is why the West is not genuinely concerned about the supposed Russian threat to Latvia and why the U.S. — as the only country that contributes more to NATO's collective security than it receives — will not invest its limited military resources in an attempt to pressure and contain Russia through force.

China is gradually but irreversibly acquiring a guaranteed and reliable trade partner in the north — essentially, its "very own Canada." Those deepening ties lie beyond the reach of Western sanctions, blockades or potential military pressure directed against Russia. In fact, it is popular among Chinese experts on Russia to point to the Canada-U.S. relationship as the optimal model for relations between the two countries.

Washington is pursuing its policy of isolating Russia with the utmost determination, and, as we see, that approach is already bearing fruit. President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to China offered clear proof of just how ineffective the attempt by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama to punish Russia has been. With the direct involvement of senior Russian and Chinese leaders, Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation signed a 30-year gas contract — an unusual step in their bilateral trade and economic relations. Before this, the two countries had stressed the importance of keeping politics and business separate, and every attempt to time the signing of trade deals with visits by senior officials had failed when business conditions were unfavorable. That was true not only of the decades-long negotiations leading up to the current gas deal, but also the first contract by which Russia supplied oil to China through its eastern Siberia to Pacific Ocean pipeline.

However, the current massive gas contract was not the only important feature of the recent visit. In a joint statement, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping speak not only of a "new stage in relations, comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation." They also point to the need to "resist interference in the internal affairs of other states, to reject the language of unilateral sanctions and organizations … and activities aimed at altering the constitutional order of another state or its involvement in a multilateral association or union." That statement essentially formalized the Russian-Chinese "anti-revolutionary alliance" that had begun de facto with the two countries' effective efforts to stymie Western intervention in Syria.

The range of economic agreements they signed indicates that Russia is gradually lifting restrictions on the export of sensitive dual-use technologies to China and permitting Chinese state-owned corporations to increase investment in the Russian economy. After years of fruitless negotiations, Rosatom and the Chinese Atomic Energy Agency signed a memorandum on the construction of floating nuclear power stations and, reversing its previous aversion to a Chinese presence in the Russia automobile industry, Moscow will allow China's automaker Great Wall to invest in a project in the Tula region. Leaders also signed agreements for cooperation in such high technology spheres as space and civil aviation.

They also signed raw materials contracts for pipeline and liquefied natural gas, the latter deal to be handled by Russia's Novatek. China expressed a desire to invest in the mining of coal and minerals, the manufacture of construction materials and in infrastructure development. Chinese participation in the Russian economy is becoming more diversified and varied. Most of the agreements include the involvement of large and politically influential state-owned Chinese companies in the Russian economy, thereby strengthening bilateral bonds and mutual dependence.

Putin originally planned to visit China in May to participate in the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, a regional security structure summit. The focus and scope of the visit changed dramatically in the few short months following the highpoint of the Ukrainian crisis, the result of which prompted Moscow to overcome years of political resistance and embark on a new series of agreements with its largest neighbor to the south.

Putin is scheduled to make an even more "significant" visit to China in November, and both sides will probably try to prepare an even greater range of agreements for leaders to sign — especially because Moscow's confrontation with the West over Ukraine is likely to grow worse by then and the damage caused by the possibility of full-scale economic sanctions against Russia could far exceed the modest 2 percent to 3 percent loss to the economy that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev estimates. [RAB] In addition, Russian and Chinese officials usually meet every October or November to discuss military and technical cooperation, and this year's talks could prove especially fruitful.

Almost all of the agreements Putin signed during his recent visit to Beijing would have eventually been concluded anyway. Normally, they would have been part of a long process in which Moscow weighs each new agreement with China against successes in developing relations with other Asian powers such as Japan and South Korea. However, the Ukrainian crisis has compelled Russia to shift into high gear and accelerate its rapprochement with China. That approach will make it possible to solve such major challenges to the Russian economy as the need to diversify markets, develop infrastructure and increase non-energy exports. The reorientation toward China will also help minimize Russia's losses caused by Western sanctions. At the same time, the new policy might significantly limit Russia's options for political maneuvering over the long term.

BEIJING, June 6 (RIA Novosti) - Multiple challenges force Russia and China to develop not only bilateral cooperation formats and mechanisms of cooperation with Central Asian states, but also to boost the potential of regional organizations, especially the CSTO and SCO, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said.

"There is a growing need to accelerate the implementation of the initiative of Russian President [Vladimir Putin] to establish a universal center to counter modern challenges and threats to security on the basis of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Regional Counterterrorist Structure. We are grateful to China for its support of our efforts in this direction," Patrushev said on Friday after the 10th round of Russian-Chinese consultations on strategic security.

The Afghan factor and its impact on regional security was also touched upon during the talks, Patrushev noted. "I am convinced that the military presence of extra-regional forces in Central Asia should be linked with the objectives of stabilization efforts in Afghanistan. The necessity for such a presence, and even more so for its spread to Central Asia, should cease to exist in the course of the formation of the national armed forces, security and law enforcement agencies in Afghanistan," Patrushev clarified.

The increased activity of the terrorist groups in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China in recent months is not accidental, according to the secretary of the Russian Security Council. "We have expressed our condolences to our Chinese friends concerning the tragic terrorist attacks that occurred in this autonomous region of China," Patrushev said.

Founded in 2001, the Beijing-based SCO comprises Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status in the political and military organization.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a military alliance of former Soviet states; it comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

On May 23, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced at the International Security Conference that Russia decided to strengthen its military bases abroad as well as to help to boost the armed forces of the CSTO and the SCO.

BEIJING, July 9 (RIA Novosti) – Russian-Chinese joint military drills are aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, not threatening alleged enemies, Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday during a meeting with students from Beijing University of Foreign Languages.

“We are sovereign states, we are not carrying out these drills against somebody. We are holding it to strengthen our bilateral cooperation. We are not violating any international laws; it is a sovereign choice of two states,” Ivanov said.

The official noted that Russia and China held their first joint military exercises in the mid-2000s, which met a mixed response from the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently agreed to hold joint drills next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, a term used in Russia and other ex-Soviet states to describe the conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during World War II.

GUIYANG, July 10 (RIA Novosti) — Moscow and Beijing do not plan to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that would include Russia’s Far East and the bordering Chinese regions, Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov said Thursday.

"Neither we, nor the Chinese have plans to create some sort of a geographically outlined zone or region [with China]," Ivanov told journalists.

At the same time, the chief of staff pointed to the "real, positive fact of a sharp increase of trade turnover between [Russia’s] eastern regions and the corresponding regions of China."

Russian-Chinese joint projects in energy, transportation, infrastructure and engineering should allow annual trade volumes between the nations to increase from the current $100 billion to $200 billion by 2020, Ivanov said Wednesday.

A large share of the turnover is to come from the $400-billion deal between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). Under the contract, Russia is to provide China with 38 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

MOSCOW, July 15 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Helicopters holding delivered the last batch of Mi-171E transport helicopters built at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant to Chinese company Poly Technologies, a company spokesperson stated Tuesday.

It's the last batch under a contract for 48 helicopters signed in 2012 by the Chinese company and Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport. In total, with additional contracts, 52 helicopters were delivered, the statement said.

Mi-171E helicopters are successfully operated in China, in particular in regions with challenging terrain and severe climate conditions. Helicopters are used for transporting medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and construction materials.

New helicopters are adapted for flights over mountainous terrain, fitted with enhanced VK-2500 engines, Safir auxiliary power plants, and modernized transmissions.

China is one of the largest consumers of Russian-made helicopters. China currently operates more than 160 Mi-171 helicopters.

Russo-Chinese University to Enroll First Students in 2015 - Moscow State University Head

A Russo-Chinese university, to be formed on the basis of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) in Shenzhen, will accept its first 5,000 students in 2015, Viktor Sadovnichy, the head of MSU told journalists Wednesday.

"We did not want to wait long and wanted to gather a group, calling it a pre-entry group, in order to find the people that would be ready to study Russian at the pre-university department. I think next year will be dedicated to preparatory courses," Sadovnichy said.

"And the full enrollment – up to 5,000 students – we wanted to realize in 2015," Sadovnichy said.

The initiative to create a joint Russo-Chinese University has been developing since the second half of 2013. Then, during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China in May, the education ministries of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on creating a joint university. Russia has proposed signing an intergovernmental agreement on the university's activity in October.

China has taken on the responsibility of building a 200,000-square-meter student campus in Shenzhen in 10 months. In Russia, the construction would typically take 30 months, Sadovnichy said.

The university is to provide courses in Russian, Chinese and English, and graduates are to receive dual diplomas – one from MSU and one from the joint Russo-Chinese university.

Russian Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin praised the project as yet another positive outcome of the strong ties between Moscow and Beijing.

"This project comes at a time when, by the evaluation of the leaders of both states, we see that relations between China and Russia – political, economic relations – are the best in our common history, in the course of collaboration," Naryshkin said.

The two nations signed 48 agreements and contracts during Putin's latest visit to China in May. On Tuesday, during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Brazil, Putin said he had no doubts about the success of Russian-Chinese cooperation.

Compared with NATO with one fully participating controlling country (US) and the rest basically Leaches plus the odd ringworm and other forms of parasites...

_________________“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion […] but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact; non-Westerners never do.”

― Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order